News from The Wrap

“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” returns for the action-packed second half of Season 2 on Tuesday, after a three-month hiatus. The new episode, fittingly titled “Aftershocks,” picks up where the cliffhanger left off, with Skye (Chloe Bennet) developing awesome superpowers and Agent “Trip” Triplet (B.J. Britt) dead.
“We like it when you have feelings. If we can make you feel both sad and happy at the same time, then we’ve done our job,” executive producer Jeffrey Bell told TheWrap during a discussion about Tuesday’s episode, last year’s brutal midseason finale and where the superhero series is headed from here.
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Newcomer Pepi Sonuga has been cast as Ursula in the CW’s drama pilot “Cheerleader Death Squad,” an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
Story follows a disgraced CIA agent-turned-teacher at an elite Washington, D.C. prep school who trains a select few well-connected students to be his eyes and ears into the world of international espionage and help him earn his way back into the agency.
Also Read: The CW Diversity Scorecard: From ‘Arrow’ to ‘Vampire Diaries’ (Photos)
Sonuga will play Ursula, described as sexy and vain, and a strong, agile cheerleader recruited for the mission who knows what she wants.
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Lorne Michaels‘ long-running NBC sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live” is being adapted for China through parent company Broadway Video Entertainment’s (Bve) partnership with Sohu.com Inc., the operator of an online search engine and video streaming sites.
“This groundbreaking show will have international appeal while still being tailored for Chinese audiences,” Sohu said on Tuesday.
Also Read: Dakota Johnson’s ‘SNL’ Isis Spoof Draws Some Fire (Video)
“Several notable factual entertainment formats have already been brought into the country, but Chinese audiences expect something different and exciting from variety shows,” the company continued. “‘SNL,’ which combines the best
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“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” directors Joe and Anthony Russo have entered into a three-year first-look deal for feature films with Sony Pictures Entertainment, the company announced Tuesday.
The news comes after Marvel and Sony announced a partnership that would introduce a new Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, before headlining his own solo film.
Also Read: 15 ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Photos Just-Released, Show Off New Heroes, Villains, Superpowers
“Joe and Anthony Russo are terrifically exciting filmmakers with a sensibility that matches the tastes of audiences worldwide,” said Columbia Pictures President Doug Belgrad in a statement.
The Russos’ deal with Sony begins.
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“The Biggest Loser” alum Jillian Michaels is ready to get sweaty with Spike TV.
Michaels, who parted ways with NBC’s “Loser” in June, will host and executive produce a new series, “Sweat Inc,” for Spike TV, the network said Tuesday.
The series, which has received an order for 10 one-hour episodes, will find a dozen aspiring fitness entrepreneurs vying to prove that they’ve developed the next groundbreaking exercise program.
See video: Jillian Michaels Struggles to Help ‘Biggest Loser’ Alum ‘Say Yes to the Dress’
Michaels will be joined by two other fitness industry experts at the judges’ table as they decide who’ll.
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer is headed to a galaxy far, far away.
Sarah Michelle Gellar has joined Season 2 of Disney Xd’s animated adventure series “Star Wars Rebels.” Executive producer Dave Filoni discussed the casting news on Tuesday with advertising clients convened at Lucasfilm’s San Francisco headquarters for Disney Media Sales and Marketing’s presentations, just hours after the Season 1 finale had premiered.
See Photos: ‘Star Wars: Episode VII': Meet the Cast
Best known for battling demons on The WB/Upn’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” the actress will now voice a recurring character on the 3D CGI animated “Star Wars” series,
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Anne Globe has joined Skydance Productions in the newly created role of chief marketing officer, it was announced Tuesday. Globe will oversee marketing, publicity, branding, licensing and promotion for all Skydance properties, and she will report to Skydance CEO David Ellison.
Globe most recently served as an entertainment consultant working on marketing programs for live-action and animated films. She was also the chief marketing officer for DreamWorks Animation, where she was responsible for overseeing the worldwide marketing of Dwa properties including all departments relating to feature films and television marketing, media, public relations, online and events.
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Even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes news with his sectarian speech to Congress, the better drama about Israeli society and military history can be found in two recently released films. Both movies are ideal candidates for being adapted into dramatic films in the States.
Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz’s “Gett, The Trial of Vivian Amsalem,” offers a riveting portrayal of an Orthodox Jewish woman’s struggle to obtain a gett, a religious divorce required by Orthodox Jewry, from her clearly estranged husband. The drama features the disengaged couple returning time and time again over the years to appear in.
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The Own Network will be shutting down its Chicago-based Harpo Studios after 26 years as it transitions production to its new West Hollywood headquarters.
Oprah Winfrey broke the news to employees in a town meeting-style address on Tuesday morning in Chicago and released the following statement to press:
Harpo Studios in Chicago was not just my home but also my life for nearly 30 years. I’ve spent more time there than anywhere else. I am so proud of what we created. It has been a blessing in my life and I thank everyone who has been a part of this great run.
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“Community” is making its triumphant return after being rescued by Yahoo Screen, but the first trailer for the upcoming sixth season of Dan Harmon’s sitcom shows that it’s business as usual at Greendale Community College.
Of course, there have been a few changes since the show was canceled by NBC. The most glaring one is the exit of Nicole Yvette Brown, who played Shirley on the show for its first five seasons. Her exit comes after Chevy Chase and Donald Glover left the show during the show’s fifth season.
Also Read: Wisdom of Leonard Nimoy’s Mr.
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“Sharknado 3″ has just been hit by another kind of storm.
The third installment of Syfy’s camp-tastic disaster movie series shut down production on Tuesday morning, after the film’s crew voted to strike for an Iatse union contract, the Motion Picture Editors Guild said on Twitter.
The guild tweeted that, at 9 a.m. Pt, workers were picketing at the film’s production office in Burbank, noting, “If you receive a call to replace striking workers on #Sharknado3, call your local union immediately!”
Also Read: Mark Cuban, Ann Coulter Join Cast of ‘Sharknado 3′ as President and Vice President
This morning,
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Discovery Communications has hired Marc Graboff to lead its Global Business & Legal Affairs, Production Management and Studios. The company has also promoted Lee Bartlett to Studios Group president reporting to Graboff, Discovery announced Tuesday.
Former Core Media Group president Graboff will join his new company in April, when he’ll lead Discovery’s overall business affairs and production management strategies, with day-to-day oversight of matters relating to the acquisition, development and production of programming for all of Discovery’s networks and digital platforms globally, per the company.
Graboff’s responsibilities will include management of the company’s global Business & Legal Affairs and Production Management groups,
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“Game of Thrones,” “Oz” and “The Wire” are coming to the Playstation 4.
HBO Go, the premium cable network’s digital streaming platform, launched Tuesday on Sony’s latest gaming console. Now any HBO subscriber with a PS4 and an Internet connection will be able to access most all of the network’s television series, specials and films.
Also Read: 6 Major Networks on Streaming TV Craze: Who’s In, Who’s Out, Who Cares?
This comes just a month before the launch of HBO Go as a standalone service, which will allow anyone access to the network’s extensive catalog for a monthly subscription fee.
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NBC has ordered a comedy variety series starring Marlon Wayans, the network announced Tuesday.
The actor-comedian will host the hour-long comedy series, currently titled “I Can Do That!” It will feature six celebrities, who are asked to rely on unexpected skills to put on an entertainment showcase. The network has ordered six episodes and will begin airing them this summer.
See Photos: The Faces of Pilot Season 2015
The series, which has neither judges nor eliminations, will rely upon the studio audience to determine a winning celebrity each week. Participating talent includes celebrity choreographer Cheryl Burke (“Dancing With the Stars”), recording artists Joe Jonas,
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Jimmy Kimmel took a strong stance against against the anti-vaccine movement last week by airing a blunt message from medical doctors advocating for vaccinations, and responded to the backlash on Monday by reading mean tweets directed at him.
“You’re an idiot, there is just as many doctors against vaccines (sic),” read one tweet, to which Kimmel promptly replied, “No, there aren’t.”
See photos: Hollywood’s Endorsement Deals Gone Wrong: 12 Stars Who Got Fired Before Rob Schneider
Another mean tweet read: “Jimmy Kimmel is worse than the Priests abusing boys and Bill Cosby drugging girls.”
“So you see, people
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Someone check on Daniel Stern‘s voiceover availability: Fred Savage is joining Rob Lowe on sitcom “The Grinder,” TheWrap has learned.
The former “Wonder Years” star will play Lowe’s younger brother on the 20th Century Fox show. Savage has spent much of his adult life behind the camera rather than in front, though he did star on 2006’s short-lived ABC series “Crumbs.”
Also Read: Kevin Bacon’s Investigation Takes a Dark Turn on ‘The Following’s’ Season 3 Premiere (Exclusive Video)
In his new gig, Savage will play Stewart Sanderson, Dean’s (Lowe) hardworking younger brother who is constantly in his shadow.
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Maggie Smith may not be leaving “Downton Abbey” so soon after all.
Despite her comments about Season 6 being “the last one,” her publicist has released a statement to the media refuting the prevailing interpretation that her statement meant she wouldn’t be returning for a possible seventh season.
See photos: 15 Apocalyptic Movies and TV Shows That Chill, Charm and Chuckle
“ has always been on the record as saying she’ll be with the show for as long as the show runs,” her representative said, noting that she had been speaking lightheartedly.
Smith told the Times of London on Sunday that the timeframe of the.
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